MEADE 


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THE 

CONSTITUTION 


V 

THE PHILADELPHIA SOCIETY 


FOR THE 


ESTABLISHMENT AND SUPPORT 


OF 


CHARITY SCHOOLS. 






ONSTITUTION 


OF 



THE PHILADELPHIA SOCIETY 


FOR THE 


.. 

^'-"■-'ESTABLISHMENT AND SUPPORT 


***** 



OF 


HARITY SCHOOLS. 


INCORPORATED THE EIGHTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1801. 

. S. A* 

PHILADELPHIA : 

PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE SOCIETY. 



1840. 


794 - 



C. Sherman Co Printers, 
19 St. James Street. 


ACT OF INCORPORATION. 


THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, TO ALL PEOPLE, TO 
WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, GREETING : 

“ Know ye, That in pursuance of an act of the General 
Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, passed the 
sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven 
hundred and ninety-one, entitled, ‘An act to confer on certain 
associations of the citizens of this commonwealth, the powers 
and immunities of corporations or bodies politic in law,’ Jo- 
seph Bennett Eves, Joseph Briggs, Benjamin Williams, Wil- 
liam Nekervis, John Stockton, Hartt Grandom, Thomas Potts, 
Jr., Philip Garrett, Thomas Bradford, Jr., Matthew Cunning- 
ham, Charles L. Baker, Samuel Wistar, Edmund Darch, Wil- 
liam Foster, William Brown, Jr., Thomas L. Bristoll, William 
Fry, Rowland Jones, William Paxson, Robert Coe, Jr., Caleb 
Emlen, Caleb Cresson, Jr., Thomas M. Hall, Michael New- 
bold, Adam Konigmacher, John Walker, Charles Allen, Sa- 
vage Stillwell, William Lee, James Carson, Thomas Smith, 
Isaiah Jeanes, Frederick Stelwaggon, Jacob Mitchell, Green- 
berry D. Hanson, John Craig, John Sims, Morris Longstreth, 
Joseph D. Brown, Joseph Head, Robert Evans, Jr., Fielding 
Lucas, Jr., John Watkins, James A. Hood, Timothy Abbott, 
Jr., William Allibone, Jr., Michael Fagan, Daniel Newman, 
Ephraim Pittman, Samuel P. Jones, Joseph Hufty, George 


4 


Pryor, Jonathan Thomas, Jeremiah Warder, Jr., William Pope, 
Joseph Jones, William Brown (B.), Thomas Austin, Mahlon 
Haines, Benjamin Paxson, Charles Watson, Thomas Firth, 
Robert McMinn, John Dull, John Ecky, Jr., Joseph Williams, 
Josiah Bunting, Jr., William Allen, William Potter, Josiah 
White, John Hanse, Samuel Darch, Samuel Lippincott, Jo- 
seph Clay, George Klaer, Samuel Holmes, John Perkin, James 
Cresson, Robert Gill, Jr., Benjamin Jones, Joshua Haines, 
Enoch Allen, William Stokes, Archibald Burns, William 
Little, and James White, arc, agreeable to the said act, 
and in pursuance thereof, incorporated and made a body 
corporate and politic in law, by the name and style of the 

PHILADELPHIA. SOCIETY, FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT AND SUPPORT 

of charity schools, upon the articles and conditions con- 
tained in the instrument hereunto annexed.” 










CONSTITUTION. 


Whereas, there are many children in the city of Philadel- 
phia, the districts of Southwark, and the Northern Liberties, 
whose parents or friends are unable to give them a useful edu- 
cation ; and may, without the aid of a charitable institution, 
continue destitute of an acquirement so important to them- 
selves and society : 

Therefore, we who subscribe the following constitution do 
associate, under the title of “ The Philadelphia. Society, for 
the Establishment and Support of Charity Schools,” lor the 
purpose of establishing and supporting a school or schools, to 
educate gratis in reading, writing, arithmetic, and other use- 
ful learning, children of the poor of all denominations, in the 
city of Philadelphia, the districts of Southwark and the Nor- 
thern Liberties, without respect to the country or religion of 
their parents or friends : we, the said subscribers, being citizens 
of the State of Pennsylvania. 

ARTICLE I. 

The society shall hold four stated meetings in every year, 
at such times and places as their by-laws shall direct, and fif- 
teen members shall constitute a quorum : and the clear yearly 
value of their property, and the interest of the money to be 
lent by them, shall not exceed the sum of five hundred pounds. 


6 


ARTICLE II. 

The officers shall be a president, vice-president, treasurer, 
and secretary ; and there shall also be a board of managers to 
consist of eighteen, and an electing committee to consist of 
twelve members. The abovenamed officers, the board of ma- 
nagers, and the electing committee, shall be chosen annually, 
at such times and in such manner as the society shall direct. 
The president, vice-president, treasurer, and secretary, may 
be elected members of the board of managers, or of the elect- 
ing committee. 


ARTICLE III. 

The president, or, in his absence, the vice-president, or, in 
the absence of both, a president pro tem ., shall preside at all 
meetings, and subscribe all public acts of the society. In all 
questions (when a ballot is taken excepted) where an equal 
division of voices happen, he shall have a casting vote ; and 
shall call a special meeting of the society, when five members 
concur in requesting it. 


ARTICLE IV. 

The treasurer, before he enters upon the duties of his office, 
shall, for the faithful performance of the trust reposed in him, 
give a bond with sureties to the president for the time being, 
in the penalty of such sum as the board of managers may 
from time to time require. He shall receive and keep in trust 
all deeds, securities and evidences of debts due and to become 
due ; and collect, receive and keep in trust all moneys owing, 
paid, and belonging to this institution. He shall pay all orders 
of the society and of the board of managers, and annually, or 


7 




oftener if required, lay before the society and the board of ma- 
nagers a correct statement of the funds. 

ARTICLE V. 

The secretary shall keep fair and correct minutes of the 
proceedings of the society, preserve all papers and documents 
entrusted to his care, and do every other duty which the so- 
ciety may, by any rule or by-law, require him to perform. 

ARTICLE VI. 

The board of managers shall hold stated meetings at least 
once in every month, appoint a chairman and secretary, enact 
rules and regulations for their own government, and provide 
for, and have the entire government of the school or schools. 
They shall have power to draw on the treasurer for any mo- 
neys they may deem necessary for fulfilling the duties of their 
appointment, and ten members shall constitute a quorum. 
They shall in the name and for the use of this institution re- 
ceive and decide on all applications for loans of money ; and 
shall add to, place out at interest, secure and improve the ca- 
pital stock, and dispose of the interest, profits and produce 
thereof, and other income of the society, in such manner as 
they may deem most beneficial to the institution. They shall 
keep fair and correct minutes of their proceedings, and lay the 
same before every stated meeting of the society. 

ARTICLE VII. 

The electing committee, seven of whom shall be a quorum, 
shall have the sole power of electing members ; but no person 
can be chosen who shall not have been nominated at a previous 


8 


stated or special meeting of the society ; nor until one month 
after such nomination shall have taken place. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

Every person who may be elected, and shall subscribe the 
constitution, and pay one dollar, shall be a member of this so- 
ciety. Each member shall annually pay one dollar for the 
use of the institution, and shall contribute thereto, as may from 
time to time be required ; and any member who shall neglect 
to pay the same for two years successively, provided due no- 
tice thereof shall have been given, shall forfeit his right of 
membership. The society shall have power, at any stated or 
special meeting, to supply all vacancies in office, from any 
cause whatsoever. 


ARTICLE IX. 

No amendment to, nor alteration of this constitution shall 
be made, but at a stated meeting of the society, when there 
shall be at least twenty members present ; and which shall 
have been proposed at a previous meeting thereof : provided 
that the amendments or alterations to be made in pursuance 
of this article, be approved by the attorney-general and su- 
preme court of this commonwealth, transmitted by the governor 
to the master of the rolls, and enrolled in the same manner as 
this constitution is. 

Done at Philadelphia, the seventh day of August, in 
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred 
and one. 


9 


I have perused and examined the within written instru- 
ment, and hereby certify, that I am of opinion that the ob- 
jects, articles, and conditions, therein set forth and contained, 
are lawful. 

JOS. B. M’KEAN. 


We, the justices of the supreme court of the Commonwealth 
of Pennsylvania, hereby certify, that at a Supreme Court held 
at Philadelphia for the said Commonwealth, on the seventh 
day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight 
hundred and one, an act or instrument of incorporation of the 
Philadelphia Society, for the establishment and support of 
charity schools, by the name and title of “ The Philadelphia 
Society, for the Establishment and Support of Charity Schools,” 
signed by a number of persons, citizens of this commonwealth, 
together with the opinion of Joseph B. M’Kean, Esq., attor- 
ney-general of the said Commonwealth, thereon, was exhibit- 
ed to the said Supreme Court; who having perused and exa- 
mined the same, concur with him in opinion, that the objects 
articles, and conditions therein set forth and contained, are 
lawful. 

EDWARD SHIPPEN, 

J. YEATES, 

THOMAS SMITH. 


Pennsylvania, ss. 

In the name and by the authority of the Common- 
| l. s. | wealth of Pennsylvania, Thomas M’Kean, Go- 
vernor of the said Commonwealth. 


10 


Thomas M’Kean, 

To Timothy Matlack , Esq., Master of the Rolls in and for 
the said Commonwealth. 

Whereas, it hath been duly certified to me by Joseph B. 
M’Kean, Esq., Attorney- General of the said Commonwealth, 
and by Edward Shippen, Esq. Chief Justice, and Jasper Yeates, 
Thomas Smith, and Hugh H. Brackenridge, Esquires, jus- 
tices of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvan a, that they have 
respectively perused and examined the act or instrument for 
the incorporation of “ The Philadelphia Society, for the Esta- 
blishment and Support of Charity Schools,” within written; 
and that they concur in opinion that the objects, articles and 
conditions therein set forth and contained are lawful : Now, 
know ye, That in pursuance of the act of the General As- 
sembly, in such case made and provided, I have trans- 
mitted the said act or instrument of incorporation to you the 
said Timothy Matlack, Master of the Rolls aforesaid, here- 
by requiring you to enrol the same at the expense of the ap- 
plicants; to the intent that according to the objects, articles, 
and conditions therein set forth and contained, the parties may 
become and be a Corporation or Body Politic in law and in fact, 
to have continuance by the name, style, and title in the said 
instrument provided and declared. 

Given under my hand and the great seal of the State 
at Lancaster, this seventh day of September, in the 
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and 
one, and of the Commonwealth the twenty-sixth. 

By the Governor, 

T. M. THOMPSON, Secretary. 


11 


Enrolled in the Rolls Office, in Commission Book No. 2, 
page 114, &c., this eighth day of September, 1801. 
The same having been presented to me for enrol- 
( > ment on the seventh day of the same month, at ten 

minutes after eight o’clock in the evening. Wit- 
ness my hand and seal of office. 

T. MATLACK, M. R. 


AMENDMENTS. 

AN ACT 

Relating to the Philadelphia Society for the Establishment 
and Support of Charily Schools. 

Whereas, according to the provisions of the Act, entitled, 
“ An act to confer on certain associations of the citizens of 
this commonwealth, the powers and immunities of Corpora- 
tions or Bodies Politic in law,” “ the Philadelphia Society for 
the Establishment and Support of Charity Schools,” was duly 
incorporated; and whereas, by virtue of the said act, “the 
clear yearly value or income of the messuages, houses, lands, 
and tenements, rents, annuities, or other hereditaments and 
real estate of the said corporation, and the interest of money 
by them lent, cannot exceed the sum of five hundred pounds;” 
and whereas, said Corporation have represented that their an- 
nual income is nearly equal to this sum, and that the design 
of the institution will be advanced by an increase of revenue, 
and pray that the limitation may be enlarged to ten thousand 
dollars. Therefore, 

Sect. 1 . Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre - 


12 


sentatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania , in Gene- 
ral Assembly met , and it is hereby enacted by the authority of 
the same, That it shall and may be lawful for the Corporation 
styled “ The Philadelphia Society for the Establishment and 
Support of Charity Schools,” to hold and enjoy additional re- 
venue, provided , that the clear yearly value or income of the 
messuages, houses, lands, and tenements, rents, annuities or 
other hereditaments and real estate of said Corporation, and 
the interest of money lent, shall not exceed ten thousand dol- 
lars. 


Approved , January 27, 1818. 


A Supplement to the Act , entitled , “ An Act to erect Shirleys - 
burg , in the County of Huntingdon, New Hope in the 
County of Bucks, and Hamburg in the County of Berks, 
into Boroughs, and for other purposes .” 

Sect. 53. That the real estate owned by the Philadelphia 
Society for the Establishment and Support of Charity Schools, 
within the City and County of Philadelphia, be, and the same 
is, hereby exempted from the payment of City, County, Poor, 
Road, and Corporation taxes. 

Approved, April 16, 1838. 





ARTICLE I. 


The stated meetings of the society shall be held on the first 
Tuesday in October, January, April, and July, in every year. 

ARTICLE II. 

The election for officers, the board of managers, and the 
electing committee, shall take place at the stated meeting in 
January in every year. 


ARTICLE III. 

At the opening of each meeting of the Society the minutes 
of the preceding meeting shall be read, and, if necessary, 
amended. 


ARTICLE IV. 

When a member rises to speak, he must address the presi- 

2 


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dent ; and shall not be interrupted by another while speaking*, 
except for the special purpose of explaining any expression 
the member so interrupting may have used. 

ARTICLE V. 

If two or more members rise at the same time to speak, the 
president shall determine who shall proceed. 

ARTICLE VI. 

Any member shall have the right of appealing from the de- 
cision of the president ; but no order shall be taken on such 
appeal, unless five members concur in the same. 

ARTICLE VII. 

At the request of five members a decision by yeas, and nays, 
or by ballot, shall be taken. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

A motion for postponement, commitment, or adjournment, 
shall supersede every other motion. 

ARTICLE IX. 

Reports of all committees shall be in writing. 

ARTICLE X. 

The Secretary shall give notice of all the meetings of the 


15 


Society in at least two of the daily newspapers ; which notice 
shall not be less than one day previous to such meeting. 

ARTICLE XI. 

As soon as the Secretary shall receive official information 
from the Electing Committee of the election of a candidate, he 
shall immediately give notice thereof to the person elected. 


RESOLUTION 
Passed January ls£, 1822. 

Resolved , That the sum to be paid by the members of this 
Society be reduced to two dollars, including the annual dollar 
required to be paid by the constitution ; to take effect from the 
present time. 


LIST 


OF THE 

SUCCESSIVE OFFICERS OF THE INSTITUTION 

FROM ITS ORIGIN. 


PRESIDENTS. 

Joseph Bennett Eves, December 18, 1799. 
Joseph Briggs, October 28, 1800. 

Joseph Bennett Eves, August 7, 1801. 
Thomas Bradford, Jr., January 2, 1810. 
Jonathan Fell, January 5, 1819. 

Philip Garrett, January 5, 1830. 

VICE-PRESIDENTS. 

Hudson Stockton, October 28, 1800. 

Joseph Briggs, August 7, 1801. 

Thomas Bradford, Jr., September 12, 1801. 
Joseph R. Kammerer, January 2, 1810. 
Jonathan Fell, January 5, 1813. 

Philip Garrett, January 5, 1819. 

Paul Beck, Jr., January 5, 1830. 

TREASURERS. 

Joseph Briggs, December 18, 1799. 

Joseph Parry, October 28, 1800. 


17 


Thomas Potts, Jr., December, 13, 1800. 
Benjamin Williams, June 8, 1801. 
Samuel J. Robbins, November 1, 1822. 
Richard Price, January 7, 1823. 

George Peterson, January 5, 1830. 

SECRETARIES. 

William Nekervis, December 18, 1799. 
Joseph R. Kammerer, January 1, 1805. 
Stephen North, January 2, 1810. 

Samuel J. Robbins, January 4, 1814. 
Charles Biddle, Jr., January 7, 1817. 
Richard Price, January 6, 1818. 

Samuel L. Shober, January 5, 1819. 
Joshua Kimber, January 2, 1821. 
Richard Wistar, Jr., January 7, 1823. 
James C. Biddle, January 6, 1824. 
Thomas A. Alexander, January 3, 1826. 
Edwin Walter, January 5, 1830. 

John Robbins, January, 5, 1836. 

James J. Barclay, January 1, 1839. 




OFFICERS OF THE BOARD. 

CHAIRMEN. 

Joseph Briggs, June 15, 1801. 

William Fry, August 10, 1801. 

Jonathan Fell, January 7, 1803. 

3 




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Joseph R. Kammerer, January 5, 1805. 
Jonathan Fell, January 10, 1812. 

Philip Garrett, January 8, 1813. 

John Claxton, January 5, 1821. 
William Abbott, January 6, 1826. 
James Cresson, January 13, 1832. 
Samuel J. Robbins, January 3, 1833. 
Richard Oakford, January 10, 1834. 

SECRETARIES. 

William Fry, June 15, 1801. 

Edmund Darch, August 10, 1801. 
Joseph Williams, January 8, 1802. 
Caleb Cresson, Jr. January 7, 1803. 
Joseph R. Kammerer, January 4, 1804. 
Fielding Lucas, Jr., January 5, 1805. 
Thomas L. Bristoll, January 8, 1808. 
Joseph M. Paul, January 14, 1809. 
William Fry, January 12, 1810. 

Joseph Williams, January 10, 1812. 
John Robbins, January 8, 1813. 

Blakey Sharpless, January 9, 1818. 
Samuel L. Shober, January 8, 1819. 
Samuel Mason, Jr. January 5, 1821. 
William B. Davidson, January 8, 1825. 
John B. Ellison, May 29, 1829. 

Henry Cramond, January 10, 1840. 





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